Mail-crane.



PATENTBD DEG. 13, 1904.

R. L. HARDWIGK.

MAIL CRANE.

APPLIOATION FILED MA11.2s,19o4.

2 summa-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 777,628. i PATENTBD DEC. 13, 1904. R. L. HARDWICK.

MAIL CRANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. sa, 1904. l N0 MODELI 2 SHEETS-SHEET z UNITED STATES Patented December 13, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

MAIL-CRANE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 777,628, dated December 13, 1904.

Application filed March 23, 190%. Serial No. 199,594. (No model.)

To all whom it 11m/y concern,.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT L. HARDwTeIC, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ennis, in the county of Ellis and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Cranes, of which the following is aspeciiication.-

This invention relates to mail-cranes of that kind for sustaining' or holding' a bag or pouch containing outgoing mail in position for the detachment of such bag' or pouch by means on a moving train.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple device of this character by which loss of life byinjury to engineers and other trainmen is wholly avoided, in that means are provided for instantly shifting' the bag or poucl holding' arms of the crane to an ineffective position as soon as a bag is removed therefrom.

The invention includes other objects and advantages which will be set forth at length in the following description, while what I consider to be new will be covered by the ,claims succeeding' said description.

I have selected for illustration in the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, one convenient adaptation of the invention, which will be set forth at length in said description; butT do not limit myself to the exact showing thus made, for certain variations may be adopted within the scope of my said claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of a crane including' my invention, viewing the sameat right angles to a track or tracks. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the crane, viewing' the same parallel with said track or tracks and showing' the arms of the crane in their working positions. Fig'. 3 is a view corresponding' to Fig. 2, showing said arms in their ineffective positions, as is indicated by Eig. l, said Eig. 3 also illustrating a ladder, shown by the two preceding views, also forming a part of the crane. Eig. 4 is a detail of the head end of the ladder represented in the preceding' lign-res.

Like characters refer te like parts in the different views.

The crane includes in its construction a standard or post 2, which may be of tubular form and which is shown as being of cylindrical shape, 1n order, as will herelnafter appear, to facilitate the adjustment longitudi` nally of said standard of certain blocks. The standard may, if desired, be telescopic. Said standard is provided with a base or foot 3, which may be set on a suitable base, or in concrete, or may be spiked, or otherwise fastened toa tie. Upon the standard are arranged the blocks 4 and 5, one above the other, said blocks being' adapted for longitudinal movement with respect to the standard and being' held in their adjusted position by means of set-screws, as li' and 5@ respectively. Should the track or tracks adjacent to which the post or standard 2 is mounted be raised or lowered, the blocks 4i and 5 can be correspondingly adjusted in order to bring a mail pouch or bag' held between the arms hereinafter described and carried by the respective blocks into proper position to be detached by the usual hook on a mail-car. In this way it is not necessary to raise or lower the standard with respect toits foundation, as is ordinarily the case. To the lower block i the inner end of the arm or blade 6 is suitably pivoted for oscillation about a horizontal axis. To the upper block 5 is pivoted an arm'f, the pivot the said arm being between its ends, so that there will be branches of said arm at opposite sides of the pivot, what might be properly considered the outer branch being' longer than the inner one.

A connecting rod or link is shown at 8, the upper end thereof being' jointed to the inner branch of the arm 7, while the lower end of `said connecting-rod is likewise united to the lower arm 6 between the pivot and free end of said arm 6. This link is twice the weight of thel upper arm. The lower arm 6 is heavier than the upper one. lVhen therefore a bag' is removed from the arms, the lower one instantly drops to a vertical position, and as it does so it pulls the rod or link 8 downward and draws the shorter or inner bran'chof the arm or lever 7 in a corresponding direction, thereby swinging' the longer branch of said arm upward. Then the arm 6 reaches its primary or inoperative position, as represented by Figs. l and 3, the cooperating arm will be also vertically disposed, andthe same will TOO apply to the link or rod 8. rIhe outer ends of the superposed arms 6 and 7 are provided with hooks or their equivalents, as 8', swiveled or pivoted to the arms for movement about a vertical aXis and adapted -to engage rings or similar means upon the terminal portions of a mail bag or pouch.

To set the crane, the arms 6 and 7 are swung upward and downward, respectively, to bring the hooks or equivalent devices 8 into position to be connected with the rings or analogous means at the opposite ends of a pouch. In setting the arms the lower one is directly manipulated. When the hooks are united with the pouch, the latter of course maintains f the arms against movement. Upon the detachment of the pouch or bag from the arms the latter are released, so that the arm 6 can automatically move to a vertical position, as hereinbefore described, and can impart, through the rod 8, a movement to the arm or member 6 to cause the latter to return to its initial position in order to bring the two arms and the connecting-rod 8 into alinement, or approximately so, in which position they will be out of the way, so as to prevent their engagement with moving trains.

By reason of the mounting of the two arms 6 and 7 they are adapted to receive and properly hold bags or pouches of different sizes. In some cases they may be horizontally disposed when a bag of one size is held therebetween, and at other times their free ends may converge toward each other or diverge away from each other, depending upon the size of the bag.

I have described each block as equipped with a single arm. Said arms areshown as mounted upon what is represented in Fig. 1 as the right side of the blocks. The left side of said blocks may be provided with duplicates or' said arms. Then two arms only are provided, they can be set to point toward one track or that to the right of the standard 2 in Fig. 2, or they can be swung around to point toward the opposite track, as shown by dotted lines in said Fig. 2. When each block is equipped with two arms, the two sets of arms can point toward a single track, and each set in this case can carry a bag, so that the hook on a mail-car can simultaneously detach two bags, or one set of arms may extend toward one track and the other set of arms may eX- tend toward the other track. The distance between the pivot of the arm 7 to the connecting rod or link- 8 is about half that between the pivot of the lower arm and said rod or link, so that when the blocks 4 and 5 are set the proper distance apart the two arms 6 and 7 can properly swing from a vertical to a bag-holding position and back, while at the same time the said arms are adapted to hold bags of different sizes or lengths. This applies, of course, whether a single set of arms is arranged to coperate with either track when the crane is used in connection with double tracks or where two sets or' arms are provided. The arms can also be employed either in a single or double set with junctions or in any other desired way.

To the short branch of the arm or lever 7 I connect one end of a coiled pull-spring 10, the opposite end thereof being connected with the block 4f. The primary purpose or' this spring is to counterbalance the weight of a bag suspended from the long branch of said lever or arm, so that the bag cannot shift the arm. This spring also serves a second function. /Vhen the arms are set horizonally, the spring will be stretched, whereby when the arms are released by the detachment of a mail bag or pouch therefrom the spring by contracting will aid the lower arm 6 in returning the upper arm 7 to its initial position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The length of the spring 10, as well as that of the link 8, may be varied in practice to accord with the distance between the blocks 4 and To facilitate the attachment of bags or pouches to the crane I provide a ladder, as will now appear. The standard 2 is embraced by a vertically-slidable split collar or sleeve 11, the smaller segment or which is provided with parallel flanges to which the side bars of the ladder 13 are pivoted. Vhen the ladder is not in use, it occupies a vertical position or fits against the standard 2, at which time the split collar or sleeve 11 binds against said standard. When it becomes necessary to use the ladder in order to permit the ready application of a bag to the bag-holding arms 6 and 7, the sleeve or collar 11 is slid downward along' the standard, so that the ladder can assume an angular position, and to maintain it in such position the lower terminal portions of the sides of the ladder are sharpened or beveled, as at 14. Then the ladder is in the desired angular position, these sharpened portions are adapted to penetrate or stick into the ground. To prevent the ladder from being swung downward to a horizontal position,.as in case it did it might be moved across a track or be otherwise in the way, l connect said ladder with the standard by means of a stop-link, as 15, which assures the desired result.

Upon the top of the standard I mount a lamp, as 16, with which the shields, as 17 and 18, carried bythe upper arm 7, are coperative, the shields in practice generally being made from light sheet-iron and riveted in place. The shield 17 is connected directly with the arm 7, while the other shield, 18, is united to a`rod 19, extending at right angles from said arm 17. One shield is adapted to close one glass or lens of the lamp 6, while the other shield is adapted to close the opposite glass or lens, the shields being or' an area sufficient to wholly cover the glasses or lenses. When the arms are set or are in position to `hold a sack or pouch, the two shields will un- IOC IIO

IIS

IZO

cover the glass of thclamp, so as to show danger. The instant, however, that the arms are released b y the detachment of a bag therefrom they assume their vertical positions, and the moment that the upper arm 7 reaches its ine'ective position the two shields carried thereby will cover the lamp. Where duplicate sets or' arms are shown, I provide the upper arm 7 in each case with a shield directly attached thereto. When, however, a single set or' arms is used, the upper one will carry two shields.

By the means hereinbefore set forth the bag-holding arms when released by the detachment of a bag therefrom are instantly re* turned to their normal positions.

rI`he crane may be used either for single or do uble tracks, junctions, or double-track junctions. It will hold a sack of any length or weight, and in case the arms should break they are instantly automatically returned to their inoperative or primary positions. The crane will work satisfactorily in all kinds of weather and is wholly safe.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isM

l. In a mail-crane, a standard, a pivoted arm associated therewith, a second arm pivotally associated with said standard, the two arms when in a horizontal position, being adapted to hold a bag, the iirst arm being heavier than the second arm, a connection between the two arms, whereby when the lirst arm automatically, by its weight, returns to its primary and vertical position, the second arm will be caused to assume such vertical position, a counterbalance device for a bag, connected with the second arm, a signal-lamp on said standard, and a shield for said lamp, connected with one o't' said arms.

2. In amail-crane, a standard, a pivoted arm associated therewith, a second arm pivotally associated with said standard, the two arms when in a horizontal position, being adapted to hold a bag, the first arm being heavier than the second arm, a connection between the two arms, whereby when the first arm automatically, by its weight, returns to its primary and vertical position, the second arm will be caused to assume such vertical position, and a spring constituting a counterhalance for a bag, connccted with the second arm.

3. In a mail-crane, a standard, a pair et blocks adjustable longitudinally of the standard and arranged one above the other, an arm pivotally supported between its ends tothe upper block, a second arm pivotally connect ed with the lower block, a link connected to the outer branch of the upper arm and to the lower arm between the pivot and free end thereof, and a coiled spring` connected with the outer branch of the upper arm and with the lower block.

4. In amail-crane, a standard, a pivoted arm associated therewith, a second arm pivotally associated with said standard, a link connection between the two arms for transferring the motion of one to the other, and a coiled spring connected to one ot' the arms.

5. In a mail-crane, a standard having mailbag-carrying means, a sleeve slidable on the standard, and a ladder the upper end of which is jointed to said sleeve.

6. In a mail-crane, a standard having mail bag-carrying means, a split collar vertically slidable on the standard, one oiE the segments of which has flanges, and a ladder pivoted to said ifianges, the side bars of the ladder beingI sharpened.

7. In a mail-crane, a standard having' mailbag-carrying means, an adjustable ladder associated with said standard, and a link connected respectively with the standard and. ladder.

8. In a mail-crane, a standard having a signal-lamp, and mail-bag-carrying means associated with the standard, provided with a shield for said lamp.

In testimony whereol'I I have hereunto set my hand in presence oi two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT L. HARDVVIGK.

Witnesses:

C. B. CLARK, T. lill. COLLIER. 

